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Do I Need Snow Tires if I Have AWD?

You can probably safely drive your AWD (all-wheel-drive) with all-season tires in light or moderate snow. But it’s a common misperception that AWDs will drive like tanks in slick conditions.

It’s recommended that you have either winter tires or snow chains on your AWD if you’re driving in a blizzard or icy conditions. Traveling with summer or worn all-season tires on any vehicle in winter is a safety risk. Even a 4WD (four-wheel-drive) will slip and slide on snowy roads if its tires don’t have enough tread.

What AWD Does Really Well in Snow

AWD is great at getting your car moving from a dead stop and accelerating smoothly in a straight line when the pavement is slippery. It’s able to do this because it sends more power to whichever wheels are getting the most traction and less power to the spinning wheels.

But if you don’t have enough traction in the first place, the AWD system can’t compensate. If none of the four tires has enough grip, you’re in trouble.

This is why an AWD equipped with all-season tires might not deliver safe braking and sharp cornering in significant snow or on ice. In fact, some independent testing shows that a front-wheel-drive (FWD) mounted with winter tires will have shorter stopping distance and better cornering than an AWD with all-season tires.

How Winter Tires Provide Better Traction

Winter tires are made with specialized rubber that stays softer during cold temperatures. They’re designed with tread features like bigger grooves, biting edges, sipes, optional studs and variations in the block shapes for improved gripping even in subzero temperatures.

All-season and summer tires are made with a different rubber compound so they will maintain their shape even on hot pavement. They don’t have as many jagged surfaces and have fewer or shallower channels for ejecting water or snow.

Are Winter Tires Worth it for AWD Vehicles?

AWD is helpful when you’re starting to move or accelerating on slick roads, but not so much when you’re cornering or stopping. It’s not a substitute for having winter tires.

If you’re only visiting snowy areas once or twice a year, you may be fine driving an AWD with all-season tires in good condition. Just be sure to carry tire chains.

If it’s frigid where you live or you’re traveling in more than light snow every month, then buying a set of winter tires for your AWD will deliver the road grip you need for most winter weather conditions. Of course, you may also need a set of good chains for the worst weather.

Shop for Tires

How Do I Check My Tire Pressure?

Low tire pressure can be an expensive proposition, costing you hundreds of dollars a year in lost fuel economy and prematurely worn tires. Add to that, decreased handling and an increased risk in tire failure, and it’s easy to understand why maintaining proper tire pressure is so important. Tires naturally lose 1 to 2 pounds of pressure a month. Cool temperatures cause even more pressure loss. So it’s important to check your vehicle’s tire pressure regularly.

We recommend you check your tire pressure at least once a month or twice a month in the winter.

Using an Air Pressure Gauge

Here’s how you go about it with an air pressure gauge, can be found at most any auto parts store.

First, look in the owner’s manual or on the inside placard of the driver’s side door for the standard cold tire inflation pressure. This number is the PSI, or Pounds Per Square Inch, you will inflate your tires to, as suggested by the car’s manufacturer.

Next, unscrew the cap from the valve stem on the tire.

Now, press the air pressure gauge onto the valve stem and record the reading given. If there’s a hissing sound, try re-seating the gauge for a tighter fit and more accurate reading. Note that if the reading on all four tires is the same as the manual’s specifications, you’re done. If any of the tires have inadequate pressure, add air until they’re properly filled. Make sure you put in the correct amount by rechecking the pressure in each tire after refilling.

Finally, replace the valve stem cap to protect the valve mechanism from dirt and moisture.

While you’re at it, check the pressure on your spare tire, as well. You never know when you might need it.

Follow along as we show you how in this video:

Or you can simply stop by your nearest Les Schwab Tire Center, where we not only check tire pressure for you but also adjust it, if necessary. Free of charge.

Have any questions about tire pressure? One of our experts will be happy to help.

How to Change a Tire

Changing a flat tire isn’t rocket science, but there are some important things to know to make sure you get that spare on properly in order to make it safely to the tire shop. Follow along as we show you, step by step, how to do it in this Les Schwab Quick Tips video. We cover:

What to do before you get tools out.

How to find the proper jacking point on your vehicle.

How much to loosen lug nuts before lifting the car.

How to make sure the spare goes on correctly.

The proper order for tightening lug nuts.

How to Change a Tire

Safety first. Keep clear of passing traffic, make sure your car is in park, set your parking brake and turn on your hazard lights. If there’s any doubt about whether you can stay out of harm’s way, it’s better to call roadside assistance.

Check your owner’s manual. It should have tire-changing instructions, including the location of the jacking point.

Get your spare and tools out. They are usually stored in a compartment inside the trunk. There should also be instructions on how to use the jack.

Be sure the jack is positioned properly. Make sure it’s pointed the right way and placed in the proper jacking point on the vehicle.

Loosen lug nuts about a one-quarter turn before jacking.

Jack the vehicle up enough so the tire is not touching the ground.

Remove the lug nuts, setting them somewhere where they won’t roll away.

Pull the flat tire off, placing it underneath your vehicle behind the jack or, if it’s too wide to fit there, in another spot under the auto if possible. This is important in case the vehicle falls off the jack.

Put the spare on, making sure the valve stem is facing you.

Screw the lugs nuts back on by hand, finger tight.

Lower the jack down until the tire contacts the road and is bearing some weight, but not all the way.

Tighten the lug nuts in a star pattern, not a circle pattern, so the wheel gets seated snugly. This assures the wheel isn’t askew, and doesn’t then pop into the proper place while you’re going down the road, loosening some of the bolts and causing wobbling or worse — like the nuts breaking and the wheel coming off.

Lower the vehicle the rest of the way. You’re ready to drive slowly to the closest tire shop to get your regular tire repaired or replaced.

Spares are meant to be driven on short distances and not at high speed. The speed rating of your spare tire may be lower than your normal tires’. Have a tire technician check the condition of your spare at the shop so it’s ready next time you need it.

How to: Put on Snow Chains and Drive Safely

First the bad news: if you travel to the mountains or snowy areas regularly, sooner or later you’re going to have to use tire chains.

Now the good news: these are not your grandpa’s chains. Quick-fit chains are MUCH simpler to put on and take off.

Do These Two Things Before You Need to Use Your Snow Chains.

The driving conditions when you need chains are likely to be nasty. Snow is coming down, passing traffic is spraying slush, dirty water is dripping off your wheel wells, the road is slick and it may be dark. Don’t make this the first time you put on your chains. Practice once BEFORE you travel. Make sure new chains are the right size by pre-fitting them on your tires somewhere dry, like your driveway or garage.

Second, put together a simple winter road trip safety kit with spare waterproof layers and items that will make your winter driving more safe and comfortable. In winter, always carry it in your car with your chains.

Want a quick how-to on putting on quick-fit snow chains? Here are a video, step-by-step instructions and driving safety tips.

When and How to Install Your Tire Chains

Snow chains are made for use on packed snow and slush. They shouldn’t be used for just driving on wet pavement, which makes them likely to break. Using them a lot on ice will also make them wear quickly, though sometimes it’s necessary to chain up to get past an icy patch of road.

Ideally, chains are installed on all four tires. Some people use them on only two. Look in your owner’s manual under snow chains or tire chains for what your vehicle manufacturer recommends and follow that advice. If you’re using only two, the chains should go on the drive wheels. Typically, chains go on the two front tires for four-wheel drive and front-wheel drive vehicles, and on the back for rear-wheel drives.

Kneel or sit by the first tire on the tarp or cardboard from your kit. Unroll the chain, making sure the hook ends are facing the ground.

Push the yellow end of the chains behind and around the tire. Pull the two ends over the top of the tire and fasten them.

Grab the chains on both sides of the tire and pull them together toward the center of the tire.

Then hook the red fastener into one of the links, as snug as you can make it. Don’t worry if there are some extra links.

Be sure that the smooth side of the hooks point out, not in, to prevent damage to the tire.

Push the cable toward the back of the tire, positioning the chains loosely over the tread.

At the bottom of the tire is another red fastener and draw chain. Pull them toward you so there’s no slack. Feed the red draw chain around the opening on the fastener. Pull it tight and lock a link into the notch on the fastener.

Feed the rubber end of the draw chain through the red rings. Depending on tire size, you may only be able to get it through one of the two rings, but try to get it through both. Stretch the rubber end tightly and hook it onto a link on the side chain.

Repeat this entire process on the other tire(s).

You want the chains tight against the tire tread. So drive forward about 15 feet and stop. The chain will have centered itself creating some slack. Retighten the draw chain on each tire. Then you’re ready to drive. Grab your towel from your road kit to sit on so you keep your seat dry.

While driving, if you hear any indication that the chain may be broken and it’s hitting your car, STOP as soon as safely possible. Chains that are flapping can wrap around a strut or shock component causing big damage to your vehicle. Listen for a loud sound of slapping, or metal on metal.

As soon as you’re through the snow zone and have a safe place to pull off, stop, put on your hazard lights and remove the chains. Take off your wet outer layers and throw them in your road kit. Remember: DON’T drive for any distance on bare pavement.

How to Drive With Snow Chains On

Be sure to keep it at no more than 30 mph or you can damage not just your chains but your vehicle.

Don’t lock your wheels by braking suddenly.

Start slowly, to avoid spinning.

When parking, give yourself extra space so you don't break your chains by hitting a curb.

When You’re Back Home

Because they’re steel, tire chains will rust if they’re stored wet. Lay them out to dry first.

Also check them for wear, especially if you’ve driven them on asphalt for any distance. Look for flat spots, and replace the chains if you find some.

Link at left shows flattening from wear. Link in center shows sharp edge from wear that can damage a tire.